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Caroline Cottage thumbnail 2
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Not currently on display at the V&A

Caroline Cottage

Dolls' House
1831 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This little house was made in 1831 by the estate carpenter at Abergeldie Castle in Scotland. It was a present for Caroline, the daughter if the castle's owner Sir Robert Gordon, for her sixth birthday in August. It is quite a plain house with few outstanding features and is a good example of the type of house that was being made as a plaything for children to use, as opposed to more elaborate examples that adults would have had. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert rented the castle in 1848 and lived there until their new home at Balmoral was finished in 1855. Their children played with this house for many years.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleCaroline Cottage (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Wood
Brief description
Dolls' house called Caroline Cottage made in Scotland in 1831
Physical description
The house has a hinged front façade. It is of two storeys; the upper storey having three hinged windows and the lower storey having two hinged windows and a door. The other facades are plain. The roof is slate coloured, pitched with two side chimneys. Inside is a central staircase with wall and landing. On the upper floor this is flanked by two bedrooms each with patterned green wallpaper. The lower floor has a sitting room with red wallpaper and a kitchen with hearth and cooking equipment, and a fixed cupboard fitment. The house is furnished.
Dimensions
  • Height: 102cm
  • Width: 96.5cm
  • Depth: 61cm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
'Caroline Cottage 'is painted on the facade of the house
Gallery label
  • A keen collector of toys, crafts and everyday objects, Mary Greg was passionate about education in museums. She searched the country for interesting old dolls’ houses, and also commissioned new ones, to inspire and teach the children of Bethnal Green. In her long life she made donations to over 30 museums.(2014)
  • This dolls’ house was Caroline Gordon’s 6th birthday present on 1 August 1831. Her father, Sir Robert Gordon, was the Laird of Aberfeldie Castle in the Scottish Highlands. Mary Greg purchased this house in 1923 and donated it to the Museum. (2014)
Credit line
Given by Mrs T. Greg
Object history
Made for the sixth birthday of Caroline, daughter of Sir Robert Gordon in 1831. He was the owner of Aberfeldie Castle in Scotland which was rented by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert between 1848 and 1855, while their new home at Balmoral was being built. The dolls' house remained as part of the equipment of the nursery used by the royal children during her Majesty's occupancy of the castle.
Caroline Cottage was given to the museum in 1923 by Mrs Greg, who acquired it from Miss H.G.St Aubyn, Caroline Gordon's daughter.
Summary
This little house was made in 1831 by the estate carpenter at Abergeldie Castle in Scotland. It was a present for Caroline, the daughter if the castle's owner Sir Robert Gordon, for her sixth birthday in August. It is quite a plain house with few outstanding features and is a good example of the type of house that was being made as a plaything for children to use, as opposed to more elaborate examples that adults would have had. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert rented the castle in 1848 and lived there until their new home at Balmoral was finished in 1855. Their children played with this house for many years.
Collection
Accession number
MISC.216-1923

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Record createdMay 23, 2005
Record URL
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